Ruby Tuesday to pay
for labor-law violations

BOSTON – Ruby Tuesday will pay $158,000 to settle allegations that it failed to comply with the state’s child-labor and meal-break laws at multiple locations throughout Massachusetts, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced last week.

Ruby Tuesday to pay
for labor-law violations

BOSTON – Ruby Tuesday will pay $158,000 to settle allegations that it failed to comply with the state’s child-labor and meal-break laws at multiple locations throughout Massachusetts, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced last week.

According to a news release, the attorney general’s Fair Labor Division opened an investigation after receiving a complaint alleging that the national restaurant chain was employing minors beyond the hours permitted under state law. Further investigation concluded that from 2007 through 2009, Ruby Tuesday employed minors outside the permissible work hours and without work permits. Massachusetts child-labor laws include restrictions on both the occupations in which minors may be employed and the hours during which they are legally allowed to work.

Coakley’s office also determined that Ruby Tuesday did not allow employees the opportunity to take a 30-minute meal break when they worked six or more hours. Under the Massachusetts Meal Break Law, employers cannot require employees, including managers, to work more than six hours without a 30-minute meal break. During the 30-minute period, employees must be relieved of all duties and must be free to leave the work premises. •

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